Article dispensing apparatus



Dec. 27, 1938. F. w, H BAN 2,142,053

ARTICLE DI SPENS ING APPARATUS Fi led Jan. 14, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tic .1. Eq-

7 INVENTOR flue/WELD l K Hos/1N.

ATTORN EY Dec. 27, 1938. F. w. HOBAN 2,142,053

ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 14, 1957 $.Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR l- Ewe/WELD W 1705A N ATTORNEY Dec. 27, 1938. F. w. HOBAN 2,142,053

ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 14, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEINTOR J M Ima ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS Application January 14, 1937, Serial No. 120,468

9 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in means for vending or dispensing commodities or merchandize of various kinds in packages or otherwise, and the same has for its object to provide a simple, reliable and efficient apparatus which may be readily operated to dispense the merchandize or package.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which a plurality of manually operable memhere or elements are employed under control of a common coin released locking means for selectively dispensing at will an article or package from any of a plurality of magazines or compartments.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which the magazine or compartment thereof for receiving packages or articles is controlled to allow the release of the lowermost article or package from the compartment to be discharged or dispensed without the imposition of a positive ejecting force upon the package liable to cause damage thereto.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which the article dispensing or releasing means thereof include a pivoted package supporting member operating between the lower end of the magazine and a delivery chute in spaced relation below the same for transferring the lowermost package from the magazine to the delivery chute.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which means are included for preventing the discharge of more than one package from the magazine upon the release of the lowermost package therein by operation of the package carrier or support.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which both the stack holding means and the package dispensing means associated with each magazine are controlled by a common actuating member.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which the package or article dispensing and 60 controlling means are disposed to effect an economy in the space occupied by the apparatus.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which the stack holding means thereof in- 65' eludes means for yieldingly gripping or engaging the article or package above the lowermost to compensate for difierences in the size thereof while effectively holding the stack upon the release of the lowermost article.

Further, said invention has for its object toprovide an apparatus of the character specified in Which the stack holding means and the article releasing means are coordinated in operation to delay the releasing movement of said secondnamed means and advance the return movement thereof relative to the corresponding movements of said first named means upon the actuation of the common control in both directions.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, and in the combination, connection and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken on the line l-| of Fig. 3, with parts broken away, of one form of apparatus constructed according to and embodying my said invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section thereof on the line 33 of Fig. 1, one of the selector elements and the parts actuated thereby being shown in depressed position for releasing or dispensing a package;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section thereof on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section thereof on the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation in detail showing the locking means in released position; and

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken on the line 'l! of Fig. 3 and showing the package engaging surface of the package holding member or shoe.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus embodying my invention mounted upon a suitable support H1 is housed within the casing II. Vertically extending magazines or compartments 12 are arranged side by side upon support It. The a member l5 constituting a guard to prevent access to the control means disposed thereabove as hereinafter described. The casing II is provided with an opening H at the front thereof registering with the delivery chute M to permit of the removal of the articles or packages dispensed.

The packages A are retained or held within the several magazines or compartments l2 in stacked or superimposed relation by the supporting fingers or members |8 freely pivoted upon the transverse shaft I9 mounted upon the support I0 in advance of and above the lower open ends of the compartments I2 and extending rearwardly into the space |8 between the lower ends |3 of the magazines and the inlet end l4 of the delivery chute M for swinging movement therein. Each member I8 is actuated or controlled by a manually operable button or selector element 20 biased normally to retain its corresponding package supporting finger or carrier l8 in raised position extending below the open end l3 of the corresponding compartment I2 for retaining the packages therein.

The several selector elements or buttons 20 are preferably formed as plungers mounted upon the support H) for reciprocation vertically within bearings 2| and 22, the upper ends 23 of the several plungers 20 projecting through the horizontally extending wall portion 24 of the casing II to be accessible at the front thereof. The plungers or selector elements 20 are each normally retained in projected or raised position by the biasing coil spring 25 anchored at the ends thereof to pins 26 and 21 mounted respectively to the vertical panel Ill of the support Ill and.

t0 the plunger 20. The several selector elements 20 are provided with lugs or stops 28 adapted to abut the horizontal upper portion 29 of the support H] for limiting the upward movement of the selector elements and determining the normal positions thereof. a

Each of the several actuators 28 also controls suitable means 30 associated with each compartment l2 and engageable with a package within said compartment above the lowermost for preventing gravity feed of the stack of packages when one or more of the lowermost packages is dispensed or released by lowering movement of the supporting member or carrier 8. The means 30 as one example, comprise a holding member or shoe 3| slidably mounted within the bearing 32 in the rear vertical panel portion 33 of the support l0 for movement normally of the compartment |2 substantially on a line with the next to the lowermost packages therein, as indicated at B. The shoe 3| is provided with a stem 34 slidably telescoping the tubular abutment member 35 which is slidably mounted in the depending panel Is The members 3| and 35 are normally retained in extended relation by the coil spring 36 disposed between said members about the stem 34. The outer portion 31 of the stem 34 is preferably of reduced diameter terminating in a head 38, the members 3| and 35 being retained against disengagement from each other by set screw 39 on member 35 extending into the recess 38. The outer end of the member 35 carries an anti-friction device, such as a roller 40, adapted to engage and ride upon the cam portion or surface 4| at the inner side of the corresponding selector element 20. retained yieldingly in engagement with the selector element 20 by means of a coil spring 42 disposed about the member 35 between the panel The roller 40 is Ill and the abutment 43 upon the end of said member 35.

The package contacting end or surface 44 of the shoe 3| is roughened or protuberated to provide a friction engagement with the package precluding slippage under the weight imposed by the stack of packages. In the example illustrated, said surface-44 is formed with a series of concentric annular ribs 45 and a central pin or point 46 having a slight projection beyond the ribs 45. In operation, the pin 46 penetrates slightly the cover of the package B, which is usually composed of paper, Cellophane or the like, and the ribs provide a gripping engagement with the package which is retained by the yielding pressure of the device 30 in engagement with the rear wall of the compartment |2.

Y The selector elements 20 are also provided with rearwardly projecting arms 41 having rollers 48 at the outer ends thereof and extending under the several package supporting fingers l8, each roller 48 riding back and forth over the humplike cam portion 49 of the corresponding member l8 as the plunger 20 is reciprocated, and normally engaging the member |8 in the recess 50 to positively retain the package supporting member I8 in elevated position with the substantially fiat supporting surface 5| thereof disposed below and contiguous to the open end |3 of the compartment l2 to prevent discharge of the packages therefrom.

In the normal or projected position of each of the selector elements 20, the roller 40 of the package holding means 30 engages the reduced portion 52 of the actuator 20, the compression on the spring 42 then being released to allow movement of the member 35 to position releasing the compression on the spring 36 which in turn releases the pressure of the shoe 3| on the package B, allowing the stack of packages to drop upon the arm portion 5| to be supported thereby.

Upon depression of any selector element 20, when coin released as hereinafter described, the roller 40 rides over the inclined portion 53 of the cam surface to move the member 35 gradually inwardly against the tension of the spring 42 to increase the compression on the spring 36. Thiscauses the shoe 3| to yieldingly engage the package B as above described. After further depression of the selector 20, the roller 40 engages the dwell portion 54 of the cam 4| to maintain the means 30 under compressionJ for exerting a clamping action against the package B for an interval upon .the return movement of the plunger 20. Upon depression of the selector member 20, the roller 48 upon the arm 41 rides over the inner side of the hump portion 49 constituting a dwell 4!? shaped so that the roller 48 during its initial downward movement exerts a pressure on the member |8 in a direction retaining the latter in elevated position until the clamping means 30 has been moved into engagement with the package B. Upon further depression of the selector element 20 the package supporting or releasing means |8 moves downwardly while supported upon or following the roller 48 to discharge the lowermost package into the delivery chute I4. Upon release of the selector element 20 the parts are returned to normal or elevated position as above described, the member It! being returned because of the contour of the cam 48 and provision of the dwell 54, to package supporting position before the release of the clamping means 30.

The several selector elements 20 are preferably under control of a common locking means 55 released in the presence of a proper coin inserted in the apparatus. The coin is preferably inserted through the usual slot in the top of the casing I I and traverses a chute 56. The coin is discharged from a chute 56 into a movable coin carrier 51 preferably of angular or bell-crank shape. The vertically extending arm 58 of the carrier 51 is secured at the lower end thereof to a stud shaft 59 journalled in the side portion 60 of the support l6 and the angularly related arm 6| thereof has a slot 62 therethrough for receiving the coin. The member 51 is normally retained in registry with the chute 56 by means of a coil spring 63 secured at one end to the member 51 and at the other end to the side portion 60. A platform member 64 is secured to the side portion 6!) below the slot 62 for supporting the coin to retain the same within the slot 62 in the normal position of the carrier member 51. A locking element or member 65 is freely pivoted at 66 to the side portion 6!] and includes a nose portion 61 of reduced depth extending towards and normally resting upon the top of the member 51 contiguous to the slot 62. The locking element 65 at the bottom thereof has a guiding surface 68 engaging the coin carrier 51 and terminating in a shoulder or step 66 adapted to engage the heel of the member 51 to limit the movement thereof from normal position, said shoulder 69 being spaced from the heel 10 in the normal position thereof to allow a limited lost motion between the parts to enable the coin to function as a cam for elevating the locking element 65.

The coin carrying member 51 is actuated by the bell-crank mechanism 1| disposed in the path of movement of the several selector elements 20 and adapted to be actuated by any one thereof. Said mechanism preferably comprises a trans verse shaft 12 supported by the outer ends of the crank arms: 13 and 14 secured respectively to the stud shaft 59 and the stud shaft journalled in the opposite side portion 16 of the support Ill. The shaft 12 is maintained in engagement with the lower ends of the several selector elements by the action of the spring 63. Movement of the coin carrier 51 when actuated by any selector 20 is limited after the locking member is disengaged therefrom as hereinafter described by the bearing 2i acting as a stop.

I also provide means 11 associated with the several selector elements or push buttons 20 for preventing operation of more'than one element at a time. This means includes a transversely extending enclosure or race 18 upon the front panel Ill containing a plurality of slidable elements 19. The several selector elements 20 are provided with vertically extending lugs 80 having pointed lower ends 8| normally disposed above the race 18 and adapted when the elements 20 are depressed to pass through openings 82 in the race 18 and between certain of the slide elements 19 which are preferably bevelled at the contiguous ends thereof, as indicated at 83. Pins 84 upon the front panel [li of the support It] extend into the path of the elements 19 at the ends of the race 18 to form stops. Upon depression of any selector element 20 the lug 36 thereof intervenes between the contiguous ends of one pair of the slide elements 19 and forces the end elements into engagement with the pins 84 to preclude separation between the other elements in the race 18, the play between the several elements 19 longitudinally of the race 18 being substantially equal to the width-of one lug-86.

I also preferably provide means 85 for preventing, after the locking means I5 is disengaged, the return of any selector element 20 to normal position before the dispensing movement thereof is completed. For this purpose, each plunger 20 at one side thereof is provided with vertically arranged teeth 86 and with slightly elongated recesses 81 and 88 above and below the series of teeth 86. A dog 89 is pivotally mounted upon a boss 90 upon a front panel portion l of the support. Each dog 89 is retained in horizontal position extending centrally into the lower recess 88 by the coil spring 91 secured at one end to the angularly related arm 92 of the dog and at its other end to a pin 93 secured to the panel Ill When the locking means 65 is actuated by the coin upon movement of the carrier 51, the dog 89 is deflected downwardly at an angle by engagement with the teeth 86 which prevents the return of the selector element until the dog clears the teeth 86 upon entry thereof into the upper clearance recess 81, the spring 9| then returning the dog to horizontal position. Upon return of the plunger 26 the dog 89 in like manner prevents depression of the plunger 20 before the same has first attained its normal position.

The operation of the apparatus will be largely obvious from the foregoing description. In the absence of a coin or check in the slot 62 of the coin carrier 51, the movement of any of the selector elements or push buttons 20 upon actuation thereof will be transmitted through the crank mechanism 1| to the member 51 to cause limited movement thereof until the shoulder 69 of the locking element 65 is engaged. The limited movement allowed is inadequate to move the package supporting member 18 to position for discharging the package because of the co-ordination between the control arm 41 and hump portion 58 of the swinging carrier l8.

When the proper coin or check is lodged in the slot 62, upon actuation of any selector 20, the carrier 51 swings to position bringing the coin into camming engagement with the nose 61 of the locking element 65 to lift the latter so that the shoulder 69 clears the member 51 as shown in Fig. 6 to allow the full actuation of the selector element. Upon the actuation of the locking element 65, the selector element 20 must then be fully depressed, because of the presence of the stroke controlling means 85, to operate the package clamping means 36 and then allow the corresponding package supporting means IE to swing downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3.

Each member I8 is always under control of its selector element 26, and swings in a path within the space l8 between the lower end -I3-of the compartment I2 and the entrance M to the delivery chute |4 so that the package is substantially carried thereby from one to the other, the

package sliding gently from the member I 8 as the latter attains the proper inclination, into the chute l4 without appreciable fall or drop liable to result in damage thereto because of acquired momentum. Upon release of the plunger 20 the parts return to normal position.

In my invention the co-operating actuating parts are co-ordinated to delay the package releasing movement of the member 18 and to ad- Vance the return movement thereof relative to the corresponding movements of the stack hold-v ing means 30 upon the actuation of the selector element 20 in opposite directions. Because of such co-ordination, the next to the lowermost package or article within the magazine 12 is yieldingly gripped to prevent the gravity feed of the stack at times when the member I8 is moving from and returning to its elevated position.

The package gripping means 30 because of the spring disposed between the shoe and abutment members thereof maintain a yielding, gripping engagement with the package compensating for difierences or variation in the size thereof.

Further, the several magazines or compartments [2 and the common delivery chute disposed below the same in spaced relation thereto provide a space therebetween in which the package releasing arms I8 can operate to allow the discharge of the lowermost package from the magazine and to transfer the same to the delivery chute without causing any appreciable drop thereof. The correlation between the magazines, delivery chute and package releasing means operating therebetween also efiects an economy in the space occupied by the apparatus, particularly rendering the same more compact horizontally.

A characteristic feature of the present inven' tion resides in the provision of selector elements of plungers responsive to a light touch, the forces opposing the depression and return of the selector element being minimized. To this end the coin carrier 51 and bell-crank mechanism 1| constitute a self balancing leverage system capable of being easily actuated by any selector element 20. Upon the package releasing operation, the supporting member l8 together with the package thereon drops by gravity, the weight thereof being exerted upon the plunger 20 in a direction to depress the same. The imposition of a positive ejecting force upon the article is eliminated, and upon the return of the plunger 20, the only work imposed thereon is to lift the relatively light, pivoted supporting member l8 unimpeded by the weight of the stack. Frictional forces are also minimized by the antifriction device or roller 40 upon the stack holding means 30 slidably engaging the actuator 20 and the roller 48 upon the arm 41 slidably engaging the under side of the pivoted member 18. Springs 25 and 63 for returning the mechanism to normal position are comparatively light, requiring very little effort to overcome the opposition thereto.

The apparatus embodying my said invention is adapted for dispensing or vending various articles, and particularly articles of a fragile nature requiring careful handling, such as packages containing bottles of perfumery or other liquids.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a support, an article receiving magazine therein open at the lower end, means for engaging an article in said magazine above the lowermost including members connected together for limited relative movement and disposed nor.- mally of the magazine and a spring disposed between said members for extending the same, spaced bearings on said support for the respective members, a spring disposed between the outer member and its bearing for causing the projection thereof, an actuating member engaging said outer member and receiving the thrust of said springs, and means for controlling the discharge of articles from the lower end of the magazine.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a support, an articlev magazine thereon open at the lower end, a vertically extending actuating member slidably mounted on said support and including a portion having a cam surface, article engaging means disposed between said magazine and said actuating member and including members connected together for limited relative movement and a spring disposed between said members, bearings on said support for said movable members, a spring disposed between the outer member and the contiguous bearing for retaining the outer of said members in engagement with said cam surface, and means serving as a closure for the lower end of the magazine and controlled by said actuating member to release the lowermost article in the magazine following the compression of said article engaging means by said actuating member.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a support, a magazine thereon open at the lower end, means for engagement with an article in the magazine above the lowermost including members connected together for limited relative movement and slidably mounted on the support normally of the magazine and a spring disposed between said members, means movably mounted below said magazine for supporting the stack thereon and releasing the lowermost article, an actuating member mounted for vertical sliding movement on said support, and having a cam portion coacting with the outer member of said first-named means, a spring for retaining said outer member in engagement with said actuating member, and means on the actuating member for controlling the movement of said second-named means.

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising a support, an article containing magazine thereon open at the lower end, a delivery chute disposed below said magazine in spaced relation thereto, means engageable with an article within the magazine above the lowermost for preventing feed of the stack, a member pivotally mounted upon said support forwardly of and extending rearwardly into the space between said magazine and said chute for swinging movement under gravity bias from and to position for retaining the articles within the magazine to and from position for releasing the lowermost article, the parts being so related that said member in the releasing position thereof substantially clears the entrance to said chute, and an actuating member vertically slidable on said support in advance of said first-named means and said pivoted member, said actuating member including a portion for operating said first-named means and a portion for controlling the movement of said pivoted member, and said last named portion extending under and engaging said pivoted member for normally supporting the same in closed position and for controlling the extent of opening thereof under gravity bias upon actuation of said last-named member.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising a support, an article containing magazine thereon open at the lower end, a delivery chute disposed below said magazine in spaced relation thereto, a member pivotally mounted upon said support forwardly of and extending rearwardly into the space between the lower end of the magazine and the receiving end of said delivery chute for swinging movement therebetween, said member in the elevated position thereof serving to support the articles within said magazine and upon downward movement thereof by gravity serving to convey the lowermost article to position for discharging the same by gravity into said delivery chute, and a vertically reciprocating member having a portionextending under and supporting said pivoted member for controlling the movement thereof in both directions.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising a support, an article containing magazine thereon open at the lower end, a delivery chute disposed below said magazine in spaced relation thereto, a member pivotally mounted upon said support and extending rearwardly into the space between said magazine and said delivery chute for controlling the discharge of an article from said magazine and the delivery thereof to said delivery chute, means slidably mounted upon said support transversely of the magazine above said pivoted member for engagement with an article above the lowermost in said magazine, and an actuating member slidably mounted on support for vertical movement, and including a portion having a cam, surface engaging said last-named article engaging means for actuating the same, and a portion therebelow extending under said pivoted member for normally supporting the same in closed position to hold the articles in said magazine and, upon actuation for permitting movement of said pivoted member into position substantially clearing the entrance to said chute to slidably discharge an article therefrom into the chute, said actuating member upon the return thereof effecting the return of said pivoted member to closed position.

7. An apparatus of the character described comprising a support, an article containing magazine thereon open at the lower end, means disposed on said support for movement into and from engagement with an article above the lowermost in the magazine for controlling the feed of the stack, a member pivotally mounted on the support below said means and extending below said magazine for movement from article supporting position into article releasing position and return, said member having a projecting portion at the lower side thereof forming a cam surface having a dwell at the side thereof towards the pivot, and an actuating member slidably mounted for vertical movement on the support, said actuating member having a cam surface and dwell co-operating with said first-named means, and a portion extending under said pivoted member and co-operating with the cam surface and dwell thereof, and the respective co-operating portions being co-ordinated to delay and advance the movement of said pivoted member relative to the corresponding movements of said firstnamed means upon the movement of said actuating member in opposite directions.

8. An apparatus of the character described comprising a support, an article containing magazine thereon open at the lower end, means disposed on said support for transverse movement into and from position above the lowermost article of the stack for preventing feed of the stack, a member pivotally mounted on the support below said means and extending below said magazine for movement from stack supporting position to article releasing position and return, and an actuating member slidably mounted for vertical movement on the support having a cam portion co-operating with said first-named means for actuating the same and a portion extending under said pivoted member and serving to normally support the same in closed position and to permit opening movement thereof and effect the return thereof upon operation of said actuating member, said pivoted member and said last-named portion including means coordinated with said cam portion to delay and advance the movement of said pivoted member relative to the corresponding movements of said first-named means upon the movement of said actuating means in opposite directions.

9. An apparatus of the character described comprising a support, an article containing magazine thereon open at the lower end, a delivery chute disposed below said magazine in spaced relation thereto, a member pivotally mounted upon said support forwardly of and extending rearwardly into the space between said magazine and said chute for swinging movement under gravity bias to and from position retaining the articles within the magazine from and to position clearing the entrance end of said chute, means on the support for transverse movement into and from position above the lowermost article of the stack for preventing feed of the stack when said member is in open position, and a vertically slidable actuating member having a portion extending under said pivot and supporting said member for controlling the movement thereof in both directions and having a camming portion co-operating with said means for actuating the same, said first-named portion and said pivoted member including means co-ordinated with said camming portion to delay and advance the movement of said pivoted member relative to the corresponding movements of said firstnamed means upon movement of said actuating member in opposite directions.

FAIRFIELD W. HOBAN. 

